Calling all artist and makers: There’s a TEC Garage program for you

Creative Pinellas and TEC Garage are teaming up to change the way we think about and incubate entrepreneurship. Starting in late March 2018, TEC Garage will add a new focus to their CO.STARTERS series: creative and industrial arts entrepreneurship. Gone be the days of parental disappointment when their kid utters the phrase “art major.” Instead, the new program focus bridges the gap between traditional ideas of entrepreneurship and the traditionally non-business oriented field of creative arts.

According to a press release, as St. Petersburg’s longest standing start-up incubator (run by the Tampa Bay Innovation Center), CEO Tonya Elmore is looking forward to broadening their audience of entrepreneurs with the creation of this new program. “Support provided by Creative Pinellas will fund the program for artists, art organizations and arts-related startups; providing a unique approach to the integration of the arts with entrepreneurship,” she stated.

What is CO.STARTERS?

CO.STARTERS is a nine week entrepreneurial program, which seeks to equip entrepreneurs with practical business insights, human capital, relationships, and tools to turn ideas into enterprise. “Unlike traditional platforms, CO.STARTERS applies the lean business modeling methods popular among high-growth startups to businesses of all kinds.” Held at TEC Garage, this series of CO.STARTERS will begin March 28, and run each Wednesday night from 6-9pm. The program is facilitated by Chris Paradies, president of Paradies Law, P.A. and business professionals throughout Tampa Bay will serve as guest speakers.

Interested in attending?

Fill out the application here. The full cost of the program is $275 (scholarships available). Participants will receive two months free co-working space in TEC Garage upon graduation – a $150 value. For information, visit their website, or contact 727-547-7340.